Bridge Mentorship
Founded in 2009, AIA Chicago’s Bridge mentorship program connects AIA Fellows with rising professionals in their first three-to-ten years of practice. It offers an eight-month curriculum of curated programs coupled with informal, one-on-one meetings.

About Bridge Mentorship
Founded in 2009, AIA Chicago’s Bridge program connects AIA Fellows and rising professionals within their first three-to-ten years of practice. It offers an eight-month curriculum of curated programs coupled with informal, one-on-one meetings between mentors and mentees. The program fosters mentorship, inspires leadership, and encourages AIA members to reinterpret and evaluate the trajectory of the practice. The result is a dynamic, multi-generational network of Chicago architects who continue to learn from one another long after the program ends.
Each selected Bridge participant is paired with a local AIA Fellow acting as their mentor. The program incorporates informal social events and organized mentorship discussions focusing on past experiences, career development, and the future of the architectural profession. Throughout the program, the mentors and mentees will also meet in a one-on-one setting to informally discuss specific professional goals while further developing and strengthening their relationship.
This program intends to Bridge the gap between the need for mentorship in our profession and the ability of experienced architects to pass on what they have learned to the future generation of architects.
Ideal Applicant
Applications Now Open
Applications Open: Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Applications Close: Friday, August 11, 2023
"Bridge has without question been the singular most important thing in my career as an architect, and I hope it can be that for each and every participant."
2023-2024 Schedule
Friday, August 11: Bridge Application Deadline
Wednesday, September 13: Bridge Mentee Orientation
Wednesday, October 18: Kick-Off Event
Wednesday, October 25: Speed Pairing
Wednesday, November 15: Bridge Session 1
Wednesday, December 13: Bridge Session 2
Thursday, January 18: Bridge Session 3: Guest Speaker
Wednesday, February 21: Bridge Session 4
Thursday, March 21: Bridge Session 5: Pecha Kucha
Wednesday, April 17: Bridge Session 6
Thursday, May 9: Closing Reception
Bridge Mentorship Leadership

Co-Director
Rebecca Brouk, AIA

Co-Director
Rachel Killion, AIA

Co-Director
Jessie LaFree, AIA

Co-Director
Carl Sergio, AIA
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